Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Both shoes on - a short and sweet update

On October 3rd, I broke a bone in my foot - the fifth metatarsal (sounds like a movie title, no?)A month later (but it felt like ages!), my cast was off, and I started walking again...slowly but progressing steadily.I didn't know how much muscle mass one can lose in such a short time - 30-40%!A coupe of days later the physiotherapist examined my foot and said all looks ok, and all I need to do is keep on walking every day. Easier said than done, but I followed the advice.The most amazing thing about healing is the magic of the night hours...I could never say I was getting better during the day, in fact, I was worried that I was tampering with the healing process because at the end of each day I felt exhausted and the pain was returning in small dozes. But every morning I would wake up with more and more strength and confidence in my walking ability...until Saturday - two weeks cast free and I managed to step into a hole in the pavement in Amsterdam, my foot in the same twisted position as when I broke it! Before I even felt the strong pain, I was so angry with myself for letting it happen!I made it home ok, limping, with pulsing pain in the exact same spots as in the night of the accident. Oh, well, I thought, no matter how long it would take to heal I am NOT getting a cast again!And then on Sunday I proceeded (pretending that nothing happened) with yet another trip to Amsterdam. It was a misty and rainy day, but warm, so I opted for walking across town, with frequent breaks for coffee or food. The walk made me go to bed early, and I slept for almost 11 hours. Same thing last night - another 11 hours of sleep...And guess what?!!! This morning I woke up , got up, and walked!!! Like I have always done - with confidence, no limping, good balance. I felt solid standing on one foot, and albeit I can still feel where the pain was...I could also feel the itching of a healing wound! So great! So happy time! Both shoes are on! :-)

About me

'No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.' (John Donne) ...or... 'Every man is an island. But clearly some men are island chains. Underneath, they are connected. ' ('About a boy') I'm blogging because I enjoy reaching out and stirring a conversation, sharing thoughts, hearing back from you, connecting...and if in any way I'm able to ease your day, or simply entertain you...all the better! And don't be afraid to leave a comment.